Gas by-pass for storage tank gauging pipes



April 3, 1951 w. c. SANDERS 2,547,344

GAS BY-PASS FOR STORAGE TANK GAUGING PIPES Filed Oct. '29, 1945 2sheets-sheet 1 7K. 0'. Jand'ens IN V EN TOR.

$5 HTTOR/VEVS.

April 3, 1951 w. c. SANDERS 2,547,344

GAS BY-PASS FOR STORAGE TANK GAUGING PIPES Filed Oct. 29, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 t: z ij :125: r" 1 I E l l M; 4 8 A -I( H 4 :ifii /4 I i0 L 7/? 6. ,Sarzdeiw IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNiTE STATS, ?.TE'N FFiCEf GAS BY-PASS FOR STORAGETANK QAUGING PIPES Wilburn C. sandei s 'ae rrandview, Tex.

Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 525,236

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to crude oil storage tanks, the object of theinvention being to provide means whereby the gas fumes which areliberated from the tank, upon moving the usual gauge opening cover toits open position, will be liberated at a point above the gaugers head,thereby protecting the gauger against the ill effects caused bybreathing the gas fumes during the gauging operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gasby-pass pipe, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designatesa crude oil storage tank of the usual and well known construction,

the tank being provided with the usual gauge pipe 6, through which thegauge line and bob, are dropped into the tank for gauging purposes. Thegauge pipe supports the gate valve 1, through which the gas fumes pass,when the gate valve is,

moved to its open position so that the gauge line and bob may be droppedthereinto.

The gas fume by-pass pipe, forming the essence of the invention, isindicated by the reference character 8 and as shown, is provided with anoffset internally threaded end 9 adapted to be threaded on the upper endof the pipe section H) which is screwed into the upper end ofthe valvehousing for the valve 1. Due to the angular offset end 9, the mainportion of the by-pass pipe 8 is disposed at an oblique angle with,respect to the pipe section iii, the upper end of the pipe 8 beingdisposed vertically where it is internally threaded to receive the pipesection H which is of a length to exhaust gas fumes at a point above thehead of the gauger who stands on the tank 5, during the gaugingoperation.

Formed in the upper surface of the pipe 8, is

a gauge opening :2 which is so arranged that it is directly over theupper end of the pipe section 68, to permit the gauge line and bob,indicated by the reference character !3, to be dropped vertioally intothe tank 5. The gauge opening i2 is partially closed by means of thespring-pressed valve i3 which is mounted on theouter surface of the pipe8, the valve I3 being formed with finger pieces [4, projecting from, itssides, by means of which the valve It may be swung upwardly, against theaction of the coiled spring l5 which acts to normally close the valve I3.

As shown, the valve is of a length, so that when it is in its closedposition, a slight opening is provided between the free end of the valve[3 and one edge of the opening l2, the space being sufficient to permitthe passage of the gauge line !3 therethrough, The gauge line is of theusual and well known construction, and is Wound on a reel mounted withinthe reel housing 56, the reel being controlled by means of the handleI'I, so that the gauge line may be paid out or wound on the reel, at thewill of the gauger, gauging the contents of the tank 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, I have provided means which when attached to the usualgauge pipe of a crude oil storage tank, will direct the gas fumesupwardly, liberating them at a point above the head of the gauger,gauging the oil. Since the valve i3 will close the major portion of thegauge opening E2, the gas fumes passing through this small opening willbe such that they will not be objectionable to the gauger.

It will of course be understood that during the gauging operation, thegauge line and bob are dropped into the pipe, and the gate valve 1 isoperated to release the bob and line so that it will pass into the tank.

In view of the foregoing disclosure, it is believed that furtherdescription as to the utility and operation of the device isunnecessary.

What is claimed is:

A gas fume by-pass pipe attachment for gauge pipes of oil tanks,comprising a main pipe section having offset ends, one of the offsetends being secured to the open end of the gauge pipe of an oil storagetank, the pipe attachment being disposed at an oblique angle withrespect to the vertical with its discharge end extended upwardly anappreciable distance above the discharge end of the gauge pipe on whichthe attachment is positioned, said attachment pipe having a gaugeopening in the wall thereof in direct alignment with the gauge pipe,through which a gauge line is dropped, a hinged closure mounted on theattachment partially closing the opening around'a gauge line droppedtherein, and

3 4 a pipe extending into the free end of the attach- UNITED STATESPATENTS ment through which gas fumes are discharged Number Name Date anappreciable distance above the end of the 794,678 Martin July 11, 1905gauge P 1,101,283 Howd June 23, 1914 5 1,192,134 Stevens July 25, 1916WILBURN SANDERS- 1,456,334 Parrott May 22, 1923 1,604,374 BertschingerOct. 26, 1926 2,069,930 Talbot Feb. 9, 1937 REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the 10 FOREIGN PATENTS file ofthis patent: Number Country Date 88,073 Germany Date unknown

